Viola Davis, Speaking Out for More “Sexualized” Roles for Darker-Skinned Women in Hollywood

#Viola Davis is on a mission in Hollywood. She believes that there should be more “sexualized” #black women on the screen. She is calling Hollywood out for ignoring dark-skinned women. The actress removed her makeup and wig on an episode last year on the show “How to Get Away with Murder.” The move not only was a powerful and emotional moment for her, but it was felt by many black women all over the world. Davis’s performance was one that challenged many different stereotypes about black women by instantaneously displaying vulnerability and strength.

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According to Blay, writer for Huffington post, “Davis pointed out that before she took the role of Annalise, on “How to Get Away with Murder, she had not seen another woman like her sexualized in a role on screen (a 50-year-old, dark-skinned black woman). Davis was quoted saying:

“There were lot of things that people did not allow me to be until I got [the role of] Annalise Keating. I was not able to be sexualized. Ever. In my entire career. And here’s the thing that’s even more potent: I’ve never seen anyone who even looks like me be sexualized on television or in film. Ever. When people say they’re tired of hearing that, I always say, ‘Okay, well, you give me an example and then I’ll stop talking about it. But I’m gonna talk about it until you hear it.” (Huffington Post)

If you think back to many shows that have had darker skinned women in different roles. These shows were usually comedies, housekeeper roles, or the actresses might have filled in briefly for other light-complexion black actresses. However, there may have been a few with dark-complexion house wives but the roles were not sexual. Davis is trying to change all of that. She is speaking up and speaking out in hopes of making a change for in Hollywood for women who look like her.